Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

purpose of sensory aspect of CNS

Answer 1

receptors detect internal or external stimuli and relay information to the CNS through afferent neurons

Question 2

purpose of integrative aspect of CNS

Answer 2

analysis, storage, decision making, perceptions using interneurons

Question 3

purpose of motor aspect of CNS

Answer 3

muscular contraction, glandular secretion through efferent neurons

Question 4

two types of fibres of afferent divsion of CNS

Answer 4

• somatic afferent fibres
• visceral afferent fibres

Question 5

somatic afferent fibres

Answer 5

carry impulses from skin, skeletal muscles and joints

Question 6

visceral afferent fibres

Answer 6

transmit impulses from visceral organs

Question 7

two systems that fall under the efferent divsion of the CNS

Answer 7

• somatic nervous system
• autonomic nervous system

Question 8

purpose of somatic nervous system

Answer 8

provides conscious control of skeletal muscles

Question 9

purpose of autonomic nervous system

Answer 9

regulates cardiac and smooth muscle and secretory glands

Question 10

what is the PNS

Answer 10

nervous structures outside the brain and spinal cord that are not covered in meningeal layers

Question 11

two aspects of PNS

Answer 11

cranial nerves and spinal nerves

Question 12

how many pairs of cranial nerves are there

Answer 12

12

Question 13

where do cranial nerves I & II attach to

Answer 13

forebrain

Question 14

where do cranial nerves III-XII attach to

Answer 14

brainstem

Question 15

how many pairs of spinal nerves are there

Answer 15

31

Question 16

how many pairs of cervical spinal nerves

Answer 16

8

Question 17

how many pairs of thoracic spinal nerves

Answer 17

12

Question 18

how many pairs of lumbar spinal nerves

Answer 18

5

Question 19

how many pairs of sacral spinal nerves

Answer 19

5

Question 20

how many pairs of coccygeal spinal nerves

Answer 20

1

Question 21

why are there 8 cervical spinal nerves

Answer 21

• cervical nerves exit spinal foramina above their vertebra
• thoracic nerves exit spinal foramina below their vertebra
• thus there is an extra cervical nerve above T1

Question 22

what are ganglia

Answer 22

oval shaped collections of neuronal cell bodies found in autonomic and somatic branches of PNS

Question 23

another name for preganglionic cells

Answer 23

presynaptic neurons

Question 24

where are the cell bodies of the preganglionic neurons located

Answer 24

in the grey matter of the CNS

Question 25

another name for postganglionic neurons

Answer 25

postsynaptic neurons

Question 26

where are the cell bodies of postgangliomic neurons located

Answer 26

within the autonomic ganglia

Question 27

where do the axons of postsynaptic neurons terminate

Answer 27

effector muscles and organs (cardiac/smooth muscle and glands)

Question 28

pathway of preganglionic axons from spinal cord

Answer 28

- exit spinal cord and enter spinal nerve - exit spinal nerve via white communicating ramus - enter sympathetic trunk/chain

Question 29

three paths that a preganglionic axon can take after entering sympathetic chain

Answer 29

- immediately synapse on postganglionic neuron in chain ganglion then return to spinal nerve and follow its branch to the skin - ascend/descend within spinal cord before proceeding as above - pass through sympathetic chain without synapsing, form a splanchnic nerve that passes towards thoracic or abdomincal organs. These synapse in prevertebral ganglion in front of aorta, post ganglionic axons follow arteries to organs

Question 30

where are sensory ganglia found

Answer 30

in dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves and on the ganglia of some cranial nerves

Question 31

purpose of dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves | sensory

Answer 31

transmit messages relating to pain, touch and temperature from the PNS to the CNS

Question 32

purpose of sensory ganglia of cranial nerves

Answer 32

- have special sensory functions - eg. trigeminal ganglion: contains sensory nerve fibres from head

Question 33

name the three groups of autonomic ganglia

Answer 33

- sypathetic chain ganglia - prevertabral ganglia - parasympathetic ganglia

Question 34

what is the sympathetic chain ganglia

Answer 34

paired chain of ganglia located ventral and lateral to the spinal cord that extends from upper neck to coccyx

Question 35

how many pairs of ganglia are there in the sympathetic chain/trunk

Answer 35

23

Question 36

purpose of sympathetic trunk

Answer 36

- recieve input from lateral horn of thoracic and lumbar spinal cord - relay information relating to stress and anger

Question 37

where are prevertebral ganglia located

Answer 37

between sympathetic chain and target organs

Question 38

prevertebral ganglia purpose

Answer 38

carry sympathetic function but are not part of sympathetic chain innervate all abdominal and pelvic organs (excluding adrenal gland)

Question 39

where are parasympathetic ganglia located

Answer 39

in the cranial nerve nuclei and lateral horn of sacral spinal cord

Question 40

another name for sypathetic nervous system and why

Answer 40

thoracolumbar system - preganglionic neuronal cell bodies are located in the lateral horn of grey matter from T1-L2

Question 41

sympathetic nervous system purpose

Answer 41

- mobilisation and increased metabolism - fight, flight or freeze

Question 42

fibre lengths in sympathetic nervous system

Answer 42

- short preganglionic fibres - long postsynaptic fibres

Question 43

where are postsynaptic nerurons of the sympathetic nervous system present

Answer 43

paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia

Question 44

what neurotransmitter is associated with the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 44

noradrenaline or norepinephrine

Question 45

another name for the parasympathetic nervous system and why

Answer 45

craniosacral system - preganglionic neuronal cell bodies are in the brain stem or sacral levels of the spinal cord

Question 46

parasympathetic nervous system function

Answer 46

- routine maintenance - rest and digest

Question 47

where are the fibres of the parasympathetic nervous system found

Answer 47

- cranial nerves III, VII, IX & X - lateral horn of grey matter S2-S4

Question 48

fibre length for parasympatheric nervous system

Answer 48

long preganglionic fibres and short postsynaptic fibres

Question 49

what does the parasympathetic nervous system supply

Answer 49

head, visceral cavities of the trunk and erectile tissues of the external genitalia

Question 50

what neurotransmitter is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 50

acetylcholine